Horizontal continuous casting mold



United States Patent [72] Inventor Joseph .I. Clochetto [56] ReferencesCited Allison Park, Pennsylvania UNITED STATES PATENTS P 734,3323,321,008 5/1967 Jones 164/280X [22] Med 1968 3,349,835 10/1967 Muller164/260X [451 E 3,467,168 9/1969 Charman, Jr. 164/83X [73] Ass1gneeKoppers Company, Inc.

a corporation f D l Primary ExammerJ. Spencer Overholser AssistantExaminer-R. Spencer Annear Attorneys-Sherman H. Barber and Olin E.Williams [54] HORIZONTAL CONTINUOUS CASTING MOLD 8 Claims, 2 DrawingFigs.

v 164/83 ABSTRACT: The horizontal mold for use in continuous cast [51]Int. Cl. B22d 27/08 ing includes a stationary first portion and amovable second 3 [50] Field of Search 164/71, 82, portion which isresiliently mounted and vibrates vertically to 83, 260, 280, 283 impactthe cast strand formed in the mold.

HORIZONTAL CONTINUOUS CASTING MOLD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to improvements in continuous metal casting and, moreparticularly, to an improved mold for use in the horizontal continuouscasting machine.

Horizontal continuous casting offers many features and advantages overconventional vertical continuous casting, and over curved mold, orso-called low head, type of continuous casting machine. I

Among the many features and advantages is that the horizontal moldobviates the need for deep pits, or excessively high towers toaccommodate vertical continuous casting equipment. Further, in ahorizontal continuous casting machine, there is no need to providecurved apron structures or the bending equipment associated'with thecurved mold type of continuous casting machines.

Heretofore, horizontal continuous casting has experienced some problemsrelated to the design of the mold and mold cooling. Those skilled in theart will recognize that the mold of the present invention, however,overcomes the difiiculties heretofore experienced with horizontalcontinuous casting molds in a simple and effective manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The mold of the invention comprises a fixedfirst sleeve portion that is in communication with a vessel containingmolten metal which flows into the sleeve and forms a cast strand. Asecond portion of the mold is open at the top, but is closed with acover to which is mounted apparatus ,to vibrate the cover vertically sothat it impacts the cast strand.

For a furtherunderstanding of the invention and for features andadvantages thereof, reference maybe made to the following descriptiontaken in conjunction with the drawing which shows for the purpose ofexemplification one embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

The fixed sleeve first portion 35 is supported on a flat plate 43 (FIG.2) having parallel vertical side members 45, that are suitably bracketedto the bottom plate 43 and that have a bolt 47 extending therethrough tolock and secure the mold 31 in place. The internal cooling passages 41have inlet 49 and outlet 51 connections to admit and discharge coolingfluid respectively.

The second open trough portion 37 of the mold also has a plurality ofinternal fluid cooling passages 41 with inlet 49 and outlet 51connections thereto. Further, the second Open trough portion 37 isprovided with a cover 38 that is vertically movable; being restrainedlaterally by-the side walls 3% of the mold.

From FIG. 2, it will be noted that the cover 38 is provided with aplurality of horizontally extending pins or rods 53 that cooperate withthe upper end of resilient members, such as the compression springs 55shown in FIG. 2. The springs 55 reside in sockets 57 in the side walls39b and thereby support the weight of the cover portion 38.

The cover portion 38, as viewed in. FIG. 1, is rounded at the left-handend 59 and is tangent to, and slopes upwardly away FIG. 1 is a sectionalelevational schematic view of a portion I DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referringto FIG. 1, molten metal 11 teems from ladle 13,

containing a quantity of molten metal, into a vertical tundish 15. Thetundish 15 is generally narrow and tall, as suggested in FIG. 1, and isprovided'at the bottom with a side outlet 17. The top of the tundish isclosed by a horizontal cover 19, through which a tube 21 extends andwhich is connected to degassing and pressure control equipment (notshown). The tundish is also provided with a bottom outlet 23 that isopened only in emergency, when it is necessary to.remove molten metalfrom the tundish and also to provide an opening for using an oxygenlance to melt chilled metal or other undesirables to clean out thetundish; such molten metal 11 flowing into an emergency receptacle 25,shownschematically in position below the bottom outlet 23. The tundish15 is fixedly mounted to suitable structural support members 27, such asare suggested in FIG. 1. V r

The side outlet 17 mates with a female end 29 on a horizontal continuouscasting mold 31. A suitable sealing substance 33 is provided between thefemale end 29 and the tundish 17 to seal the joint therebetween.

The mold 31 includes a fixed first portion 35 which is in the form of asleeve, and second portion 37 which is in the form of an open trough. e

The fixed sleeve first portion 35 is opened ended and includes a bottom39a, sides 3% and top 390 walls that are cooled by water flowingthroughinternal cooling passages 41.

preferably. The vibrator 61 may be of the mechanical, electrical, orhydromechanical type, as preferred.

In operation, molten metal 11 flows from the tundish 15 into the fixedsleeve first portion 35 of the mold 31, and cooling water flowing in theinternal passages 41 removes heat from the walls of the mold. A suitablestarter bar of the type, described in copending Pat. application Ser.No. 743,730, filed July 10, 1968, which application is owned commonlywith this present application, may be used to close the open end of thefirst portion 35 of the mold and withdraw a cast strand 63 from themold.

As the newly formed strand passes beneath the movable cover portion 38,the vibrator 61 is actuated. The vibrator moves the cover portion 38upwardly and downwardly in rapid successive strokes so that the coverimpacts the strand 63 repeatedly.

The cast strand 63, as it emerges from the mold, is cooled by wateremitted from a plurality of spray nozzles 65 located adjacent the exitend of the mold 31.

A set of pinch rolls 67, or any other preferred type of apparatussuitable for withdrawing the cast strand 63, may be used to withdraw thecast strand from. the mold.

Those skilled in the art will recognize the many novel features andadvantages in the invention described herein. Among the more significantfeatures and advantages are:

The vibrating cover portion of the mold that prevents wedging or bindingof the cast strand in the mold. The cast strand is first formed when themolten metal is chilled to a temperature below the liquids, and a thinskin, formed around the molten metal, becomes thicker as the skinbecomes cooler. As the skin becomes thicker and the molten metal becomescooler, the strand would normally tend to shrink away from the moldwalls. But, since the strand is moving horizontally, it can only shrinkaway from the top and sides of the mold. It remains in contact with thebottom walls because the weight of the metal in the strand. urges itinto continuous contact with the bottom'wall of the mold.

This continuous contact effects faster cooling along the bottom surfacewhich means a thicker skin the bottom. A thicker skin produces moreshrinkage and, more shrinkage on the bottom produces an arching upwardof the cast strand.

Such arching upward will occur in the trough portion of the mold wherethe cast strand will tend to raise the mold plate 38 to resist binding,but since the vibrator attached to this cover provides the impactnecessary to straighten the strand and provide the same surface areacontact as the bottom surface, the rate of cooling of the strand will besubstantially equal on the top and bottom with subsequent ease ofremoval from the mold. 1

Such arching upward, however, is resisted 'by the action of thevibratory cover of the mold acting on the strand. Thus, the archingupward would be considerably reduced.

Further, the vibrations induced. in the cast strand by the vibratingcover prevent sticking of the cast strand to the walls of the mold.Heretofore, sticking of the strand in the mold has been one of thedifficulties experienced in horizontal continuous casting apparatusfound in the prior art,

it should be noted that theapparatus described herein may be variedsomewhat from a true horizontal .position to any degree of slope thatmight be feasible for a' better yield, depending on the cross section ofthe strand,.'to obtain an end without too much scrap that must beremoved.

Also, it is favorable to position the mold on a sliding frame that couldbe moved in position with the tundish by hydraulic, pneumatic, ormechanical means, and then locked suitably in place. I

Although the invention has been described herein with a certain degreeof particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has beenmade only as an example and that the scope of the invention is defined,by what is hereinafter claimed.

1. A horizontal mold for forming a continuous cast strand comprising:

a. a fixed sleeve first portion having apassage therethrough;

b. means to connect said sleeve first portion to a vessel containingmolten metal which flows into said sleeve and forms therein said caststrand; 7

c. a fixed second portion integrally joined to said sleeve first portionand having an open top;

d. a movable cover portion disposed on said second portion;

and

e. apparatus mounted to said cover for vibrating said cover in rapidsuccessive strokes so that said cover impacts said cast strandrepeatedly.

2. The invention of claim 1 including:.

a. means to cool said first and second mold portions; and b. means tocool said cover portion 1 Y 1 3. The invention of claim .1 including aplurality of resilient members supporting said cover portion respect tosaid second mold portion. r

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein: a. said resilient members includesprings residing in cavities in said second mold portion; and b. meanson said cover engaging said springs and supporting said cover.

5. The invention of claim 2 including means to cool said cast strandafter it leaves said mold.

6. The invention of claim -4 including means to withdraw said strandfrom said mold.

7. A continuous casting apparatus comprising:

a. a vertical tundish for receiving and holding a quantity of moltenmetal; 1

b. a horizontal continuous casting mold communicating with said tundish,said mold including:

i. a fixed sleeve first portion having a passage therethrough,

ii. means connecting said sleeve first portion to said tundish so thatsaid molten meta'l flows into said sleeve and forms therein a caststrand, Y

iii. a fixed second portion integrally joined to said sleeve firstportion and having an open top,

iv. a movable cover portion resiliently mounted to said second portion,

v. apparatus mounted to said cover for vibrating said cover in rapidsuccessive strokes so that said cover impacts said cast strandrepeatedly,

vi. means to cool said first and second mold portions, and

vii. means to cool said cover portion;

c. means to cool said cast strand after it leaves said mold;

d d. r eans to withdraw said strand from said mold. 8. A horizontalsystem for the continuous casting of metal comprising:

a. an elongated trough having a flat horizontally extending bottom withvertically upright walls at either side and with first and second openends;

b. a cover spaced from said bottom and resiliently attached to saidwalls to close the top of said trough;

c. means for supplying molten metal to the first open end of saidtrough; r

(1. means for supplying a coolant to said trough whereby said metaltends to solidify;

e. means for withdrawing the solidified metal from the second end ofsaid trough; and

f. means for vibrating said cover in rapid" successive strokes so thatsaid cover impacts said cast strand repeatedly to facilitate the travelof said metal through said trough.

